Studio thoughts.

My Kal

My Kal

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Michael.
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I built this summerhouse years ago, it doesn't really get used anymore.
I'm thinking of turning it into a little studio for simple portrait work.


1169.jpg


It's fully insulated,plastered,heated and has power and lighting.
The thing is.....is it big enough?
The internal size is roughly 12ftx9ft, the ceiling height is about 8ft....but sloping.

I obviousy need a backdrop but I haven't the first clue about lighting.

Any thoughts would be more than welcome.
 
big enough? um, i wouldnt have said its ideal, however with a bit of creative thinking, and patients, im sure some great results could be achieved with that space, but just be prepared to be constantly thinking '!!!! if i only had another few feet of width!!!!' etc etc... :p
 
yeah as above really, its not ideal space but i could make that work so so can you.
lens choice might need to be looked at
 
I think you will have problems setting up background supports because of the sloping roof space - but I could be wrong :)
 
If your only shooting head and shoulder portrait shots it should be OKish, full length shots will need a bit more imagination, i have a back drop in my 12x12 spare room which is not ideal but workable, as i also have my PC and a few other bits in there, my back drop is the collapsible type, but i have it permanently hanging on the wall, i just need to rearrange the pull out train and lights when i use it (which isn't often enough), the problem you will have is when you want to move the subject forward from the back drop so as to blow the background pure white, it's not impossible but just requires some time and patience, not my greatest attribute :D and as has been mentioned your choice of lens, if your shooting full frame it may give you more scope, the type of background i use is this one HERE.
 
Oooooh, I'm getting excited now!

Thanks for the replies.

I've spent a bit of time thinking it over and I think I'll see if I can make it work...I've got a good record at making things work!
It's not ideal I know, but at least I can set it up as a dedicated space and walk away.
If I found I was desperate for a few more feet, I could extend it a little at the back.

I don't shoot full frame, but that's another thing I can think about if I need to. I took my camera up there last night for a little test and that's what makes me think it can work, although I think I'll have to be shooting in the 17-35ish range!

It's nicely finished inside with white walls and dark oak flooring and skirting, so I'm thinking if I got some lights I could get started and then see what I've got to work with.

I've been trying to take in as much as I can about lights and lighting...obviously I've got a lot to learn!
Lencarta get a lot of mentions on here. I take it I could do a lot worse than some sort of start up set?

Any more advice would really appreciated.
 
You can always stand outside, and shoot through the doorway, so, providing that layout / orientation works, you don't have to find space for your body if you see what I mean. But only on a dry day I suppose!
 
Would be a good space for table top stuff and just about head and shoulder portrait. You won't be able to do full length that's for sure. How about a shed extension?
 
Well, it's a had a nice new coat of stain on the outside.....




DSC_00912.jpg





I just need to find a new home for the two large sofas that are taking up so much room inside, and I can get started with some lighting.


Mike.
 
Well my garage is 13.5' x 9.5' and I am already in the process of converting it SEE HERE, if mine is big enough then so is yours :) It should be big enough for head and shoulders, sat down, lying/kneeling down etc that is my plan and probably people standing up although it might require some PP for that. I am fixing studio lighting stand top mounts onto brackets I am welding myself on the side walls so I can get them closer to the walls (giving me the effective width of having a studio 12' wide). Anyway, like you, the building is there already so just have a mess.
 
I've been following your garage conversion thread, I really like seeing what other people are doing with home studios.

I like your idea with the wall mounted brackets, I'm going to start with a lighting kit (with stands) and see how I get on.....I'm expecting to make changes as I go along, anyway.
I'll probably go with a home made background arrangement though, as every 6 ins. will matter!
 
My Kal said:
I've been following your garage conversion thread, I really like seeing what other people are doing with home studios.

I like your idea with the wall mounted brackets, I'm going to start with a lighting kit (with stands) and see how I get on.....I'm expecting to make changes as I go along, anyway.
I'll probably go with a home made background arrangement though, as every 6 ins. will matter!
Click to expand...

The problem with wall mounting brackets is the lack of flexibility you will be able to rotate the light and tilt the light but nothing more. I might fit a runner up the wall which would then allow vertical movement as well but that is something I will have to look at. I also have a product shot table to make. My local supplier of metal has closed down so first job is to try and find a supplier of square and round section mild steel in or around Preston. If it does work out and the wall brackets do the job I could always make the odd one for other people or find someone locally that will make them.
 
Right, finally managed to get rid of the furniture and odds and ends in the room.

I took these to see what I 've got to work with....


2_Studio.jpg




1_Studio.jpg




I had to use a 500w halogen lamp to get enough light to take the photos!
I don't intend to do the blown background/Venture type thing, so I should be able to get, (or rig up) some kind of backdrop that fits pretty flush to the wall.
Any more thoughts or suggestions most welcome.
 
You need something long and thin to hang your backdrop on. That is what a backdrop stand does but you do not actually need a backdrop stand. What else is long and thin and you hang material off?........ A curtain pole! You could just hang a curtain pole against that wall and hang your backdrops from that although with the backdrop going onto the floor it is possible that when it gets stood on your model could rip it out of the wall so I would suggest that it is strongly attached. Using a curtain pole also means that you can't move it but that is a minor problem in my opinion if using studio lighting. In my studio I will be using two 9' long metal poles. going into slots.
 
Yeah, I'm kinda thinking along those lines.
Are you using two, (perminately fixed) poles with two different colour backdrops?
 
My Kal said:
Yeah, I'm kinda thinking along those lines.
Are you using two, (perminately fixed) poles with two different colour backdrops?
Click to expand...

I have ordered the poles so that they are a couple of inches wider that the room. My studio walls are vertical but at the top they go outwards so basically the poles just sit on top of the walls. I will be cutting a V grove in some wood and leaving this along the top so that effectively I can place a pole at different locations. I will then use spring clips to hold the material in place. Aldi have spring clamps at 4 for £1 at the moment so I bought a few packets of them. I was going to stick white on one and black on the other to start from and go from there.
 
My Kal said:
Sounds good!
Have you had any thoughts on material/paper etc.?
Click to expand...

I am going to use some Ikea white curtains for about £18 and see how that goes just to start.

I am trying to spend as little as possible as my current order with Lencarta is looking to be:

2 ElitePro 300 (300Ws) Flash Heads
1 ElitePro 600 (600Ws) Flash Head
3 Light Stands - Air
1 140x70cm Rectangular softbox
1 140x30cm strip softbox
1 95cm Octa Softbox
1 Wheeled light stand (short)
1 Reflector arm (to hold a reflector using a light stand)
1 Lencarta mains radio trigger
2 Standard Reflectors

I already have a gold reflective umbrella and a 5 in 1 reflector

My current studio kit is being sold to add to the fund (its a stable imaging kit) and I might end up selling my Sigma 20mm f1.8

The above should give me what I want but I think I will need to add a set of honeycombs too.
 
cowasaki said:
I have ordered the poles so that they are a couple of inches wider that the room. My studio walls are vertical but at the top they go outwards so basically the poles just sit on top of the walls. I will be cutting a V grove in some wood and leaving this along the top so that effectively I can place a pole at different locations. I will then use spring clips to hold the material in place. Aldi have spring clamps at 4 for £1 at the moment so I bought a few packets of them. I was going to stick white on one and black on the other to start from and go from there.
Click to expand...
Ladder supports (the brackets that are used to store ladders) make excellent, cheap supports for things like curtain poles or lengths of gas pipe
 
cowasaki said:
I am going to use some Ikea white curtains for about £18 and see how that goes just to start.

I am trying to spend as little as possible as my current order with Lencarta is looking to be:

2 ElitePro 300 (300Ws) Flash Heads
1 ElitePro 600 (600Ws) Flash Head
3 Light Stands - Air
1 140x70cm Rectangular softbox
1 140x30cm strip softbox
1 95cm Octa Softbox
1 Wheeled light stand (short)
1 Reflector arm (to hold a reflector using a light stand)
1 Lencarta mains radio trigger
2 Standard Reflectors

I already have a gold reflective umbrella and a 5 in 1 reflector

My current studio kit is being sold to add to the fund (its a stable imaging kit) and I might end up selling my Sigma 20mm f1.8

The above should give me what I want but I think I will need to add a set of honeycombs too.
Click to expand...

I'm struggling with the lighting.
The three head Lencarta Smartflash kit appeals, but I'm frightened of getting it wrong. You're going for a lot more power than I had in mind.
I've never even used the pop up flash on my camera before!
 
Finding decent space is a constant problem for photography it drives me nuts
 
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